TXU Subsidiary, Shell Join Forces for 3,000 MW Wind Facility (Texas)

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=49486

Shell WindEnergy Inc. and TXU Corp. subsidiary Luminant announced on July 27 a joint development agreement for a 3,000 megawatt (MW) wind project in the Texas Panhandle.

Under the arrangement, the companies also agreed to work together on other renewable energy developments in Texas. Shell Spokesman Tim O'Leary referred to the arrangement as an "agreement to explore the development" of the project. O' Leary said that construction will probably be "about three years away," given that the project will require transmission to be built linking the area to load centers.

Last week, the Public Utility Commission of Texas selected eight "competitive renewable energy zones" (CREZs) for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) territory, directing ERCOT to develop transmission plans for wind capacity in the range of between 10,000 MW and 25,000 MW.

The announcement said Shell and Luminant will also explore the use of compressed air storage, in which excess power could be used to pump air underground for later use in natural gas-fired generation.

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